The Penns Creek Massacre on October 16, 1755, was the first Indian hostility event in the region after General Braddock's defeat in Seven Year War.[4] A marker on the bank of Penns Creek north of Selinsgrove commemorates the massacre of 14 settlers and the capture of 11 more. In response to this and other Indian actions that day, Fort Augusta, Sunbury, Pennsylvania, the largest of Pennsylvania's frontier forts, was built in 1756 as a result of this conflict.[5]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 5,383 people, 1,767 households, and 987 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,790.3 people per square mile (1,076.9/km²). There were 1,912 housing units at an average density of 991.1 per square mile (382.5/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 94.67% White, 2.73% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.87% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.92% of the population.

There were 1,767 households out of which 23.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.1% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the borough, the population was spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 34.9% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 15.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 77.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.7 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $31,034, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $29,679 versus $22,115 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $13,401. About 7.8% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

The average weekly wage for Snyder County in 2005 was $553. This is equivalent to $13.83 per hour or $28,756 per year, assuming a 40-hour week worked the year around.[10]

In March 2007, the Patriot-News, a Harrisburg newspaper, published an eight-page story investigating the possibility of a "cancer cluster" near Susquehanna University.[11] The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection responded within a week by taking samples of air, soil and ground water, and found no environmental threat to student health. The Department of Health confirmed their findings in 2009.[citation needed]

Ongoing pollution and soil erosion in the region continues to degrade the water quality and the environment locally as well as regionally. Farming, waste water treatment facilities and industrial spills are cited as contributing factors to loss of water quality.[who?][citation needed]

The borough is governed by an elected council of seven residents. The Borough Council meets the first Monday of the month (with exceptions), in the borough building. There is an elected mayor, a borough manager and a chief of police.[12]

On November 6, 2007 a member of the Libertarian Party was elected to the borough council,[13] the first Libertarian elected to office in Snyder County history and one of only nineteen Libertarian election victories nationally.

Local government has been challenged by the increasing amount of property that is tax exempt. In 2004 it was reported that 49.3% of the properties were exempted from paying taxes. This includes the land owned by Susquehanna University, the land held by local churches and the campus of the Selinsgrove Area School District.[14] The Borough has been facing a continued decrease in the value of the taxable real estate for many years. The borough has requested "payment in lieu of taxes" from the exempt entities with limited success.[15] There have also been several successful property tax assessment challenges that have decreased tax revenues.[16][17][18]

Selinsgrove is located within the 85th Legislative District for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. This office is held by Fred Keller.[19] The Pennsylvania Senate District 27 office is held by Senator John Gordner.[20] Selinsgrove is in the US House of Representatives 10th district represented by Tom Marino

Selinsgrove Area School District is the local public school system. The District operates four schools, with 2,700 students in 2013, (down from 3,000 in 2002) clustered on a campus located in Selinsgrove borough. In 2014, the District ranked 168th out of 493 Pennsylvania public school districts by the Pittsburgh Business Times.[21] In 2013, the District was ranked 140th out of 493 public school district.[22] The ranking focused on academic achievement. Selinsgrove Area High School had 834 students (2013) in grades 9-12. The Pennsylvania Department of Education reports an 80% graduation rate in 2013.[23] The Selinsgrove Area Middle School serves students in grades 6-8 and the Selinsgrove Area Intermediate School has students grades 3-5. Primary grades at Selinsgrove Area Elementary School are Kindergarten through 2nd grade. Jackson Penn School was closed in 2009. The building was rented to a private school for special needs children in 2013.[24] In the 2007 - 2008 school year, the Selinsgrove Area School District initiated All Day Kindergarten as one approach to improving its low elementary math and reading scores. Selinsgrove Elementary was renovated and a wing as well as a gymnasium to hold all kindergarten, first and second grades.[25]

In 2005, the Selinsgrove Area High School was ranked 306th out of 601 Pennsylvania high schools on the annual state testing. The 3rd grade ranked 1215th out of 1779 Pennsylvania third grades. According to Pittsburgh Business Times, which ranks Pennsylvania school districts based on test scores, in 2007 Selinsgrove Area School District was ranked 235th out of 499 state public school districts. According to The Daily Item, in 2007, Selinsgrove also reached adequate yearly progress standards for the first time since the progress analysis began during the 2002-03 school year.[27]

The borough building and library in Selinsgrove located on Pine Street.

The Selinsgrove Community Library is a public library that is part of the Snyder County Library system.[28] The library is on the corner of High Street and Pine Street, one block west of Market Street in downtown Selinsgrove.

Kidsgrove Park is a 3.25 acre neighborhood park maintained and operated by Kidsgrove, Inc. The park contains a large wooden play structure, universal swings and sandbox, a band shell, picnic pavilions and tables, accessible walking path and permanent restrooms that are open seasonally. Off-street parking is available.[29]

Major Anthony Selin Park located on Sassafras Street is equipped with horseshoe, quoit, and basketball courts and soccer fields. A large covered pavilion for picnics can be reserved for outings and reunions. This facility also offers a kitchen area, restrooms, and game equipment. A “Life Trail”, which is a system of exercise and walking trails, is one feature of the park. Local businesses have donated kiosks that provide information on fitness for active adults. During the summer of 2011, this program will offer a sport-camp atmosphere promoting physical activity. Activities will include soccer, baseball, lacrosse, volleyball, basketball, etc. A different sport will be featured each week. The program consists of fitness and sports activities.[29]

Pump House Park and Gazebo The Pump House Park includes a building that can be rented for any meeting, party, or group event. This facility contains restrooms and a kitchen, as well as a meeting space that comfortably seats about 30 people and can be rearranged for as many as 60. The Gazebo is another great feature of the park, located in an attractive setting along Penns Creek. The Gazebo is a popular spot for outdoor weddings, and also hosts a concert series of local performers during June, July and August. For reservations, call the Borough Office.[29] "Music at the Gazebo" is a program that runs from June through August with free concerts held in Pump House Park.

The East Snyder Park is a multi-use facility which is under development using state grants and local donations. It is located along the upper end of University Ave. near Rt. 522, at the location of the existing Penn Township ball fields. The master plan of the park calls for nine professional grade horseshoe pits, baseball, softball, football and soccer fields, a preschool playground with age appropriate apparatus (Kaboom grant) a playground for older children, and a small wetland conservation education area.[30]

[Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission martians boating access to the Susuquehanna River on the Isle of Que.[31]

Susquehanna Greenway is a regional effort to link natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources along the 500-mile (800 km) corridor of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.[32]

Selinsgrove Area Community Foundation (SACF) was founded in 1994 and is affiliated with the Central Susquehanna Community Foundation (CSCF). SAYF awards scholarships to Selinsgrove Area school students and has provided funding to community projects such as KidsGrove, the Selinsgrove Pool, Snyder County Library System, and improvements at the high school's Bolig football field and track fields.[34]

The Selinsgrove Adult Band gives an annual spring concert utilizing school district facilities. This concert benefits the American Cancer Society.

The largest local employers are housing related manufacturers and educational institutions including the public schools and Susquehanna University. Educational Services and Health Care & Social Assistance combined are projected to be about 90.7% of all job growth by 2014 in the central region. Manufacturing of both Non-Durable and Durable Goods are expected to lose over 4,000 jobs (a change of about -9.1% in employment) in the same time period. Construction is the only goods producing sector projecting job growth, where employment may increase by about 210 jobs (or about 2.1%).[36]

Outside of the community local region employment includes: service jobs in local businesses, area hospitals which includes Sunbury Community Hospital in Sunbury, Pa. and Evangelical Hospital in Lewisburg, PA.